[Scintigraphic and experimental studies with 67Ga in 142 patients with bronchial cancer (author's transl)]

In 142 patients with untreated bronchial carcinoma positive 67Ga scintigrams were obtained in 132 cases (93%). 6 of 10 scintigraphically not detected tumors had diameters less than 2 cm, 4 carcinomas presumably consisted of necrotic tumor masses. There was no dependence of 67Ga accumulation on the histomorphological type of tumor. Differentiated and undifferentiated carcinomas showed a comparably high 67Ga uptake. These scintigraphic findings were confirmed by measuring the quantitative 67Ga concentration in 132 tissue samples of various tumors. In addition these studies revealed an absent or decreased 67Ga accumulation in more or less necrotic tumor masses. The positive tumor scintigraphy with 67Ga-citrate as a non-invasive method is suitable for detecting untreated bronchial carcinomas, especially those localized in the hilar or mediastinal region, which cannot be visualized roentgenologically as well as for indicating the effectiveness of radio- or chemotherapy. 67Ga scanning is also useful in establishing the reappearance of viable tumor tissue in follow-up studies of tumor diseases. The use of 67Ga as a tumor-seeking scanning agent is limited because of its lack of tumor specifity and of its inability to detect tumors smaller than 2 cm in diameter.